Rigging Safely

Did you know a lot of fatalities and injuries come from the rigging of an aerial apparatus? This is why teaching rigging as well as dance is just as, if not more important. Any aerialist should always double check the rigging and shock load the apparatus to ensure safety. How do I rig safely? Well, just keep reading...

First, all the materials used for rigging should be either all aluminum or all steel. The reason for this is simple, the differing metals eat away at each other. They create corrosion. This means that in a short amount of time, the mixed metal rigging system would be badly scratched, dented, and mutilated in some way. The distortion of any metal then puts your safety and well being at risk. So, no mixing of metals.

Secondly, shock loading any rigged apparatus is another precaution towards safety. Shock loading means weighing down the system with at least 4-5 people to see if the rigging will hold. The reason for this is because if an aerialist was to do a drop, the force of their body creates a shock of weight on the system. So, shock loading allows for any aerialist to reassure themselves that when they drop, they won't truly drop all the way to the floor.

Thirdly, always double check the rigging for any inconsistencies. A lethal situation can appear quicker than anyone would think in an aerial performance. Too many have already happened in the past, and aerialists can learn from this. Even if the rigging team says everything is good, only the aerialist really knows the consequences of a faulty system. So, protect yourself and always double check the rigging.

Lastly, check out the ceiling, the roof, and the basic architecture of a building before rigging. Is the building a dome shape? Maybe rigging isn't as safe in that structure. Are there plenty of I-beams to choose to rig from? Sounds like a secure choice. If the roof is warped and sunken in in places, avoid rigging in that building or near those distortions. Sometimes it is assumed of anyone who rigs that the ceiling is strong enough. However, sometimes buildings get rusty, and weather does unseen damage. In case no one is able to check the architecture, the shock loading should work just as good to see if the structure can bear the weight.

Check out these YouTube videos for hands on rigging and pre-rigging methods.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNmCZQB5W66WCyU0ZBT8WP_OpqfeRgAC-&disable_polymer=true

Thanks for reading my blog post about rigging safely! This is such an important topic, that all aerialists know too well about. Check out some of my other blogs!